Public-domain ebook
Language: en343 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Children & Young Adult Reading·Poetry
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #10931.
The opening · free to read
There, lullaby, and I will sing to you A little song about a yellow bird That made a nest upon a currant bush, And sung the sweetest that you ever heard, Lullaby, lullaby!
There were two little birds that built the nest; One sat and sung upon the garden wall, The other, with her warm and downy breast, Covered the eggs so beautiful and small. Lullaby, lullaby!
One day some little birds came peeping out, And then they opened wide their mouths for food; The yellow birds flew down and skipped about, And brought them something very nice and good. Lullaby, lullaby!
And so they grew and grew, till puss, one day, Tore down the pretty nest with sudden rush, But Johnny saw, and took the birds away, And placed them in the nest, back on the bush. Lullaby, lullaby! The old ones found them safe, poor trembling things; They smoothed and fed them, and that very day They taught them how to spread their little wings, And 'mong the garden trees to soar away. Lullaby, lullaby?
A thousand, thousand snow-flakes, They're swimming in the air; They fall upon the cherry-trees, And hang like blossoms there.
They are coming, coming, coming, As far as I can see; They 'light, like little fairy birds, Upon the old oak tree.
Each flake of snow is pretty-- A spangle or a gem; But they melt away in dew-drops-- I can not treasure them.
They melt beneath the sunbeam, They sink into the ground, And where they vanish, by-and-by, Sweet flowers will be found,
And I am told they moisten And make the flowrets grow; So, welcome, very welcome, Are the gentle flakes of snow.
Poor lammie! what a pity One little foot is hurt, And the face that was so pretty Is covered with the dirt!
But up, and never mind it; A little brook is near-- Among the grass you'll find it-- The water's cool and clear.
I guess you will feel better-- Step in and take a drink; That shallow brook of water, With flowers around the brink.
A woman gently rocks her easy chair, With a sweet infant lying on her breast, The gentle motion waving her long hair, As thus she sings her little one to rest, Lullaby, lullaby!
Another twilight, and my heart is thrilled Still with thy living beauty; angel feet This day have trod our threshold, but to shield, And not to bear thee hence, my baby sweet. Lullaby, lullaby!
One radiant star is shining in the west, A softer radiance is in thine eyes; Upon the slender stalk the blossoms rest-- A sweeter blossom on my bosom lies. Lullaby, lullaby!
All thou mayest be I dare not image now, As thou in life shalt bear an earnest part; Only I pray that on thy spotless brow The seal of heaven be set, and true thy heart, Lullaby, lullaby!
The dew is falling, and the leaves are stirred With a low whispering of love and power, And thou art sleepy now, my nestling bird, Shut thy blue eyes as softly shuts the flower. Lullaby, lullaby!
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